Becoming an activist: The power and the pain of parental advocacy for inclusive education

Background:The aim of this research was to tell the story of the Queensland Collective for Inclusive Education (QCIE), a parental advocacy group in Queensland, Australia. Collective parental activism is recognised as a powerful driver for inclusive education reform; understanding how parent collectives develop and the impact on parents of this work is critical to inclusive education reform moving forward.
Method:Collective narrative methodology was used to gather and retell the story of QCIE. Collective narrative weaves the stories of individuals into a story of the whole. Ten parent members of QCIE participated in group and individual interviews and to the re-storying of the collective narrative.
Results:QCIE's story paints a picture of a committed, strategic and collaborative group of individuals. It also highlights the considerable effort and stress associated with parent activism. Key themes in the group's formation include shared commitment to inclusion, leadership,personal growth, relationships, and sustainability.Conclusions:Findings reinforce the critical role of the parent movement in inclusive education reform but also the pressing need for allies so that advocacy for inclusive education is sustainable and not so heavily dependent on parents.